Grenada has taken steps to protect its near shore coastal resources. As part of the Caribbean Challenge, Grenada pledged to protect 25% of their near shore coastal resources by the year 2020. As part of this effort, the country has declared three Marine Protected Areas. However, one of the challenges Grenada has faced in the protection of coastal habitats is the lack of resources to develop measures that prevent the degradation of coral reefs. In this context, excess nutrients from land runoff, overfishing of some critical reef species, among other are major contributors to macro-algal overgrowth causing the loss of coral reefs in Grenada.

The Government of Grenada, through the Fisheries Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, requested the assistance of the Department of Sustainable Development through the ReefFix Project towards conducting a study that will provide a better understanding of the inputs associated with land runoff from the Beausejour River system in proximity to the Moliniere Beausejour Marine Protected Area and determine suitable interventions that can be taken to reduce the impacts and therefore increase the health of reefs. As a result of this case study, the Grenada Fisheries Division will gain a better understanding of the sources and quantities of inputs of nutrients and sediments from nearby rivers and the impacts it may have on the adjacent coral reef system in the Marine Protected Area. This case study included the following activities:

• Conduct chemical analysis to determine the levels of nutrients in the Beausejour River as well as the near-shore coastal waters of the Moliniere Beausejour Marine Protected Area.
• Assess the levels of sedimentation to determine the impact it may have on coral reefs within the Moliniere Beausejour Marine Protected Area.
• Conduct benthic surveys on coral reefs in the Moliniere Beausejour Marine Protected Area to assess the impact of nutrient and sediment inputs from the Beausejour River on the adjacent coral reef systems.
• Identify possible sources of nutrient and sediment inputs into the Beausejour River within the Beausejour watershed and catchment.
• Make recommendations on ways to reduce or eliminate inputs of nutrients and sediments into the Beausejour River.
• Conduct a cost effective analysis of the recommendations to reduce or eliminate inputs of nutrients and sediments into the Beausejour River.
• Hold a capacity building workshop to share and validate the case study results and make policy and management recommendations in the context of ICZM with government officials, NGO representatives and coastal communities.